HOF goalie Roy to coach Avalanche

DENVER (AP) — Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy is returning to the Colorado Avalanche as their head coach.

The team reached an agreement in principle with Roy to lead the Avs and also gave him the title of vice president of hockey operations.

Roy will join forces with former teammate Joe Sakic, who was recently promoted to executive vice president of hockey operations. The Avalanche won two Stanley Cup titles with the duo on the ice and the organization is hoping they can help turn around a downtrodden team.

The Avs are coming off a season in which they finished last in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs for a third straight season. The dismal season led to the dismissal of coach Joe Sacco late last month.